Footwear with retractable spikes

ABSTRACT

A shoe and an apparatus for selectively extending spikes from the bottom of a shoe. The shoe has a sole having a longitudinal direction a plurality of spike apertures. The apparatus comprises a plurality of spike assemblies, each being locatable within one of the spike apertures an elongate member extending substantially parallel to the longitudinal direction of the shoe and a cyclically alternating positioner for moving the elongate member between the first and second positions. The positioner including an actuating button. Depressing the actuating button a first time causes the positioner to move the elongate member to a first position whereat the spikes are extended from the sole. Depressing the actuating button a second time causes the positioner to move the elongate member to the second position whereat the spikes are retracted into the sole.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of Invention

The present invention relates to footwear in general and to a method andapparatus for providing footwear with selectively extendable spikes inparticular.

2. Description of Related Art

Traction is necessary for proper performance in many sports. Forexample, in the sport of golf, proper traction is required during fullswing shots such as the tee shot and many fairway shots. Due to thegrass covered surfaces on which golf is played, however, proper tractionmay be difficult. It is well known that the addition of spikes to thebottom of footwear for golf shoes helps to provide the necessarytraction on such a surface. Such spikes were traditionally made ofsharpened elongate metal projections.

Traditional metal spikes, however, suffered from the disadvantage ofbeing damaging to some surfaces. In particular, the putting greenssurfaces which have a significantly shorter grass length have been foundto be damaged by metal spikes. Such metal spikes have been known tocause significant damage to putting greens by leaving holes and ridgesin the ground as well as damaging the more delicate putting greengrasses.

One solution to the above disadvantages of metal spikes has been toreplace the traditional metal spikes with a spike insert comprising aplurality of plastic or rubber protrusions which are also known as the“soft spike”. Soft spikes have resulted in less damage to the puttinggreens surfaces. Accordingly, many golf courses have enacted rulesprohibiting traditional metal spikes in favor of soft spikes. However,soft spikes have also reduced the traction provided to the golfer duringfull swing shots such as the tee shot. Therefore, while mostrecreational golfers now use soft spikes, many professional playerscontinue to use metal spikes. The use of metal spikes for professionalgolf tournaments results in a significant amount of damage to theputting greens which is both costly to repair as well as obstructive tothe play of later players.

Soft spikes have also not completely eliminated the damage occurring togolf course greens. As developers of soft spikes have attempted toincrease the traction provided by soft spikes, the amount of damagethese spikes inflicts on putting greens increases. In particular, it isknown that metal spikes and newer designs of soft spikes results indamage to the structure of the grass making these grasses moresusceptible to disease and other difficulties. Putting greens thereforerequire more fungicides, pesticides and water to ameliorate the damagecaused to the grass from metal and soft spikes.

Previous attempts have been made to provide shoes with selectivelyextendable and retractable spikes. Examples of such shoes may be foundin U.S. Pat. No. 4,821,434 to Chein, U.S. Pat. No. 6,058,627 to Violetteet al., and U.S. Pat. No. 4,375,729 to Buchanen, III. However, suchdevices have not been suitable for use in a golf shoe as there areseparated controls to extend or retract the spikes. Several of thesecontrols are located in the toe of the sole where they may be prone toactuation during the follow-through of a golf swing.

Other attempts have required the user to activate the extension orretraction of the spikes from the sole of the shoe by manipulating a tablever, screw or other device on the sole of the shoe itself. Examples ofsuch devices may be found at U.S. Pat. No. 5,836,092 to Yarnell, U.S.Pat. No. 5,497,565 to Balgin, U.S. Pat. No. 6,389,714 to Mack, U.S. Pat.No. 5,956,870 to Grossman et al., U.S. Pat. No. 6,256,907 to Jordan etal., U.S. Pat. No. 5,732,482 to Remington et al., U.S. Pat. No.5,870,838 to Khayat and U.S. Pat. No. 5,269,080 to Davis. Such deviceshave not been acceptable due to the need to bend down to extend orretract the spikes which may be difficult for some users and timeconsuming.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to a first embodiment of the present invention there isdisclosed an apparatus for selectively extending spikes from the bottomof a footwear article. The footwear article has a sole which has alongitudinal direction and a plurality of spike apertures. The apparatuscomprises a plurality of spike assemblies, each locatable within one ofthe spike apertures and an elongate member extendable substantiallyparallel to the longitudinal direction of the footwear article and beingmovable between first and second positions. The elongate member isoperable to extend the spikes from the footwear article at the firstposition and to retract the spikes within the footwear article at thesecond position. The apparatus further comprises a cyclicallyalternating positioner for moving the elongate member between the firstand second positions wherein the positioner has an actuating button.Depressing the actuating button a first time causes the positioner tomove the elongate member to the first position. Depressing the actuatingbutton a second time causes the positioner to move the elongate memberto the second position.

According to a first embodiment of the present invention there isdisclosed a shoe having an upper and a sole portion and a longitudinaldirection. The sole having a plurality of spike apertures and aselective spike extending assembly for extending a plurality of spikesfrom the sole through the plurality of spike apertures. The spikeextending assembly comprises a plurality of spike assemblies, each beinglocatable within one of the spike apertures and an elongate memberextendable substantially parallel to the longitudinal member of the shoeand being movable between first and second positions. The elongatemember is operable to extend the spikes from the shoe at the firstposition and to retract the spikes within the shoe at the secondposition. The spike extending assembly further comprises a cyclicallyalternating positioner for extending the member between the first andsecond positions wherein the positioner has an actuating button.Depressing the actuating button a first time causes the positioner tomove the elongate member to the first position. Depressing the actuatingbutton a second time causes the positioner to move the elongate memberto the second position.

The actuating button may be a single button. The actuating button maycomprise a plunger button acting against a return biasing spring. Theplunger button may be cantilevered from a heal portion of the sole in asubstantially horizontal plane.

A portion of the sole may cover the actuating button. The actuatingbutton may be contained within the sole. The actuating button mayproject from the sole.

The apparatus may further comprise at least one rod extendingtransversely across the sole for transmitting the movement of theelongate member to the spike assemblies. The at least one rod may besupported within a slot in the elongate member, wherein the slot may beorthogonal to the elongate member and the at least one rod. The spikeassemblies may further comprise a sleeve receivable within theapertures, a spike slidably supported within the sleeve, a first linkextending from a bottom portion of the sleeve to the at least one rodand a second link extending from a top portion of the spike to the atleast one rod.

The at least one rod may be secured to the elongate member. The spikeassemblies may further comprise a sleeve receivable within theapertures, a spike slidably supported within the sleeve and a wedgesecured to the spike wherein a portion of the at least one rod engagesthe wedge. The rod causes the spike to be extended as the elongatemember is moved to the first position.

The rod may be pivotally secured to the sole and include a pinion gearengagable with a rack gear of the elongate member. The rod furtherincludes a cam corresponding to each of the plurality of spikeassemblies for extending the spikes. The spike assemblies may furtherinclude a sleeve receivable within the apertures and a spike slidablysupported within the sleeve wherein the cams engage a top portion of thespikes.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In drawings which illustrate embodiments of the invention whereinsimilar characters of reference denote corresponding parts in each view,

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a footwear article having extendablespikes.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the sole of the footwear article of FIG.1 with the footwear article removed.

FIG. 3 a-b are cross sectional views of the footwear article of FIG. 2as taken along the line 3-3.

FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view of one spike assembly in the footweararticle of FIG. 2 as taken along the line 4-4 with the spike in aretracted position.

FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view of one spike assembly in the footweararticle of FIG. 2 as taken along the line 4-4 with the spike in anextended position.

FIG. 6 a-c are cross sectional views of the actuating button of thefootwear article of FIG. 2.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the sole of the footwear article of FIG.1 with the footwear article removed according to an alternativeembodiment.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the sole of the footwear article of FIG.1 with the footwear article removed according to an alternativeembodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to FIG. 1, a footwear article, or shoe having a retractablespikes according to a first embodiment of the present invention is showngenerally at 10. The shoe 10 includes an upper portion 12, a sole 14 andhas a longitudinal direction 16.

The sole 14 includes a bottom surface 18 and has a plurality of spikeapertures 20 located therein for projecting spikes 52 therethrough. Thesole 14 is bound by a peripheral edge surface 22 and includes a rearmostportion 24. The rearmost portion 24 of the sole 14 includes an actuatingbutton 26 for selectively extending or retracting the spikes 52.

Turning now to FIG. 2, a perspective view of the sole 14 of the shoe 10is shown with the upper portion 12 of the shoe removed. The sole 14includes an elongate member 30 extending substantially parallel to thelongitudinal direction 16 of the shoe 10. Within the sole 14, at alocation corresponding to each of the spike apertures 20, is a spikeassembly 32. A plurality of transverse rods 34 extend transverse to theelongate member 30 between the elongate member and the spike assemblies32.

A positioner 36 having opposite first and second ends 38 and 40respectively is mounted in the rear of the sole 14. Positioner 36 isoperably connected to the elongate member 30 at first end 38 adjacent tothe rearmost portion 24 of the sole 14. The positioner 36 includes theactuating button 26 at second end 40. The positioner 36 is adapted tocyclically and alternately move the elongate member 30 so as toreciprocate between first and second positions along the longitudinaldirection 16 of the shoe 10 in response to corresponding depressions ofthe actuating button 26. At the first position of the elongate member30, the spikes 52 are extended from the sole 14 of the shoe 10 asfurther described below. At the second position of the elongate member30, the spikes 52 are retracted into the sole 14 of the shoe 10. Asillustrated and described below, the first position is oriented forwardwithin the shoe 10 relative to the second position. It will beappreciated, however, that the first position may be rearward within theshoe 10 of the second position with corresponding alterations to thespike assemblies 32. For greater certainty, a first actuation ordepression of the actuating button 26 by a user will cause thepositioner 36 to move the elongate member 30 to the first position.Thereafter, a second actuation or depression of the actuation button 26by a user will cause the positioner to retract the elongate member 30 tothe second position. It will be appreciated that subsequent actuationsor depressions of the actuating button will cause corresponding cyclicalreciprocating motions of the elongate member.

The elongate member 30 is constructed of a material selected to havesufficient compressive strength permitting the elongate member toadequately actuate the spike assemblies 32 as will be appreciated fromthe description below. In addition, the elongate member 30 may beconstructed of a material selected to be flexible about a directiontransverse to the longitudinal direction of the shoe 10 so as to permitbending of the sole 14 as the wearer walks. Non limiting examples ofsuch material may include thin sheets of steel, aluminium, or certaintypes of plastics, such as for example polyethylene, polyvinyl chloride,polypropylene and polyurethane.

The positioner 36 may be of a conventional type, such as, for example inaccordance with designs found in retractable pens or the like as areknown. It will also be appreciated that other cyclical alternatingmechanisms will also be useful. The actuating button 26 may be depressedor actuated by a user or wearer of the shoe by depressing the actuatingbutton 26 with a finger or thumb. Alternately the user may impact orpressing the actuating button 26 against another shoe or object bymanipulation of the shoe 10.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, the shoe may include eight spike apertures 20arranged in longitudinally spaced apart transverse pairs symmetricallydisposed on either lateral side of and along elongate member 30 suchthat a single rod 34 extends between each pair of apertures. Asillustrated, the shoe 10 may include three pairs of spike assemblies ina forefoot 10 a of the shoe and a single pair in the heel 10 b of theshoe. It will be appreciated however that other arrangements of spikeapertures 20 and spike assemblies 32 may be useful as well. By way ofnon-limiting example, the shoe 10 may include spike apertures 20 andspike assemblies 32 that are not arranged in pairs and therefore asingle rod 34 may be used for actuating each spike assembly. In additionfewer or more spike assemblies 32 and spike assembly pairs may also beincluded within the heel 10 a or forefoot 10 b in accordance with thepresent description.

FIGS. 3 a and 3 b illustrate two alternative embodiments by way ofexample of a cross-sectional view of the sole 14 of the shoe 10 isillustrated along the line 3-3 of FIG. 2. FIG. 3 a illustrates theelongate member 30 along a cross section that includes three transverserods 34. At each of these locations, the elongate member 30 includes anaperture 42 lying in a plane which is oriented orthogonal to both theelongate member 30 and the rods 34 so as to accept rods 34 journalledtherethrough. As illustrated in FIG. 3 a, the apertures 42 may be formedby deforming the side portions 44 of the elongate member 30 into au-shape below the remainder of the elongate member. The rods 34 maytherefore be contained between the u-shaped side portions 44 and theunderside 46 of the remainder of the elongate member 30.

The rods 34 and the elongate member 30 may therefore be freely movablein a vertical direction within the sole 14 of the shoe 10. The verticalmovement of the elongate member 30 may be accommodated by a verticallyslidable connection between the elongate member 30 and the positioner 36according to known techniques.

In the alternative embodiment of FIG. 3 b, the elongate member mayinclude one or more slots 48 which serve to receive rods 34 therethroughinstead of apertures 42. According to this embodiment, the elongatemember 30 is not movable in a vertical direction but only in ahorizontal direction. Any required vertical movement of the rods 34 maybe permitted relative to the elongate member by the slots 48.

FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate cross sectional views of a spike assembly 32showing spikes partially retraced and fully extended respectively. Eachspike assembly includes a sleeve 50 having a bottom portion 51 which isadapted to be fixedly received or otherwise mounted within a spikeapertures 20. Each sleeve 50 slidably supports a spike 52 therein. Thespike 52 has a top portion and a sharpened bottom portion 54 and 56,respectively. Each spike is actuated by a linkage of links 58 and 62.First link 58 extends between the top portion 56 of the spike 52 and thetransverse rod 34. Second link 62 extends between the bottom portion 51of the sleeve 50 and the transverse rod 34. The first link 58 ispivotally connected to the spike at first pivot 60. The second link ispivotally connected to the sleeve at second pivot 64 adjacent bottomportion 51. Both of the first and second link 58 and 62 are pivotallyconnected to the transverse rod 34.

As illustrated, the sole may include at least one securing plate 55within the bottom portion of the sole for threadably receiving thesleeves 50. The securing plates 55 may be formed of a single memberlocatable within the forefoot 10 a of the shoe and a single memberlocatable within the heel 10 b of the shoe 10. Optionally, each spikeaperture 20 may include a separate securing plate 55 or pairs of spikeapertures may share a securing plate. The securing plate 55 may beconstructed of a metal such as, for example, steel, stainless steel,aluminium or plastic selected to have a high pull out strength of thesleeves 50 to resist the pulling out from sole 14. The spike assembly 32may also include seals 53 for sealing between the spike 52 and sleeve 50as well as a biasing spike 57 for biasing the spike to a retractedposition as illustrated in FIG. 4.

As illustrated in FIG. 4, the spike assembly 32 is at a retractedposition wherein the bottom portion 56 of the spike 52 is retracted intothe sole 14 of the shoe 10 such that either only a small portion or noneof the spike extends from the sole. It will be appreciated that for someuses, the spike 52 may extend from the sole 14 itself so long as thespike 52 does not extend pas the traction protrusions 14 b of the sole.For other uses, the spikes may extend farther or less than the distancefrom the sole of such traction protrusions 14 b.

As illustrated in FIG. 5, the spike assembly 32 is at an extendedposition wherein the spike 52 extends significantly from the bottom ofthe sole 14. In the extended position, the transverse rod 34 has beenmoved away from the spike assembly in a horizontal direction generallyindicated at 66 so as to cause the first and second links 58 and 62 toextend the spike 52 within the sleeve 50. It will be appreciated that acorresponding vertical movement of the rod 34 will also result from themovement of the first and second link 58 and 62. The correspondingvertical movement of the rod may be accommodated by the elongate member30 as described above. Springs or other suitable means may also beincorporated between the spikes 52 and the sleeves 50 to urge the spikesinto their retracted positions when the elongate member 30 is in itssecond position as described above.

Turning now to the alternative embodiments of FIGS. 6 a-c, a crosssectional view of the actuating button 26 within the sole 14 of the shoeis illustrated. The positioner is contained within a cavity 23 in thesole 14 of the shoe 10. The cavity 23 of the sole 14 may be filled witha gel or other suitable material so as to prevent the introduction ofwater or other materials into the sole 14 of the shoe. The gel may alsoassist in the cushioning of the provided to the wearer of the shoe 10.As shown in FIG. 6 a, the actuating button 26 may extend through therearmost portion 24 of the peripheral edge 22 of the sole 14. Therearmost portion 24 may therefore include a bore 25 therethrough forpassing the actuating button 26. It will be appreciated that sealingbetween the bore 25 and the actuating button will be necessary toprevent the introduction of water, dirt and the like into the cavity 23and the positioner 36. As illustrated in FIG. 6 c, the actuating button26 may also include a flanged or flared head portion extending throughthe rearmost portion 24. Thus, as illustrated the plunger button 26 iscantilevered from the heal portion of the sole 14 in a substantiallyhorizontal plane relative thereto.

In the alternative embodiment of FIG. 6 b, the rearmost portion 24 ofthe sole 14 may include a thin membrane extending over the actuatingbutton 26 such that the actuating button 26 is contained within cavity23 with the positioner 36. It will be appreciated that the membrane ofthe rearmost portion may follow the typical curvature of the sole 14 asillustrated in FIG. 6 b or may optionally be bowed outward from the sole14. As illustrated in FIGS. 6 a-c, the actuating button 26 is a singlebutton. It will be appreciated that in many embodiments the actuatingbutton is a plunger button acting against a return biasing spring.

Turning now to FIG. 7, an alternative embodiment of the presentinvention is illustrated in which the spikes 52 may include a wedge 70secured to the top portion 54 of the spikes. The spike may be securedwithin the spike aperture 20 by the use of a sleeve 50 as describedabove. In this optional embodiment, the rods 34 may be fixedly orpivotally secured to the elongate member 30. The elongate member will beslidably supported within the sole 14 of the shoe 10 such that it ispermitted to move horizontally along the longitudinal direction 16 ofthe shoe but is restrained from vertical movement.

As the elongate member 30 and therefore the rods 34 are moved from asecond to a first position as described above, bearing portions 72 ofthe rods will frictionally bear against and press down on the wedges 70.The wedges will thereby press the spikes in a downward direction therebyextending the spikes from the sole 14. Springs or other suitable meansmay also be incorporated between the spikes 52 and the sleeves 50 tourge the spikes into their retracted positions when the elongate member30 is in its second position as described above.

Turning now to FIG. 8, an alternative embodiment of the presentinvention is illustrated in which the spikes 52 may include a camfollower 80 secured to the top portion 54 of the spikes. Each spike maybe secured within it's spike aperture 20 by the use of a sleeve 50 asdescribed above. In this optional embodiment, the rods 34 are pivotallysupported by the sole 14 of the shoe 10 with rod supports 86 (only onebeing illustrated for clarity). The rods 34 include cams 82corresponding to each spike 52 wherein each cam 82 includes a cam lobe84 adapted to engage the cam followers 80 of the spikes 52. The rods 34further include a pinion gear 90 or other suitable engagement forengagement with a corresponding rack gear 92 on the elongate member 30.The elongate member 30 will be slidably supported within the sole 14 ofthe shoe 10 such that it is permitted to move horizontally along thelongitudinal direction 16 of the shoe but is restrained from verticalmovement.

As the elongate member 30 is moved from a second to a first position asdescribed above, the rack gear 92 engages with and rotates the piniongear 90 and the rod 34 in a direction generally indicated at 91. As therod is rotated within the rod supports 86, the cams 82 on the ends ofthe rod 34 are rotated in a direction generally indicated at 93 suchthat the cam lobes 84 engage upon the cam followers 80 of the spikes 52.The cam lobes 84 thereafter urge the cam followers 80 and the spikes 52to an extended position as generally indicated at 95.

While specific embodiments of the invention have been described andillustrated, such embodiments should be considered illustrative of theinvention only and not as limiting the invention as construed inaccordance with the accompanying claims.

1. An apparatus for selectively extending spikes from the bottom of afootwear article, the footwear article having a sole having alongitudinal direction and a plurality of spike apertures, the apparatuscomprising: a plurality of spike assemblies, each of said plurality ofspike assemblies being locatable within one of said spike apertures; anelongate member extendable substantially parallel to said longitudinaldirection of said footwear article and being movable between first andsecond positions, said elongate member operable to extend said spikesfrom said footwear article at said first position and to retract saidspikes within said footwear article at said second position; and acyclically alternating positioner for moving said elongate memberbetween said first and second positions, said positioner having anactuating button, wherein depressing said actuating button a first timecauses said positioner to move said elongate member to said firstposition and wherein depressing said actuating button a second timecauses said positioner to move said elongate member to said secondposition.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said actuating button is asingle button.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said actuating buttoncomprises a plunger button acting against a return biasing spring. 4.The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said plunger button is cantileveredfrom a heal portion of said sole in a substantially horizontal plane. 5.The apparatus of claim 1 wherein a portion of said sole covers saidactuating button.
 6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said actuatingbutton is contained within said sole.
 7. The apparatus of claim 1wherein said actuating button projects from said sole.
 8. The apparatusof claim 1 further comprising at least one rod extending transverselyacross said sole for transmitting said movement of said elongate memberto said spike assemblies.
 9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said atleast one rod is supported within a slot in said elongate member,wherein said slot is orthogonal to said elongate member and said atleast one rod.
 10. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said spikeassemblies further comprise: a sleeve receivable within said apertures;a spike slidably supported within said sleeve; a first link extendingfrom a bottom portion of said sleeve to said at least one rod; and asecond link extending from a top portion of said spike to said at leastone rod.
 11. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said at least one rod issecured to said elongate member.
 12. The apparatus of claim 11 whereinsaid spike assemblies further comprise: a sleeve receivable within saidapertures; a spike slidably supported within said sleeve; and a wedgesecured to said spike wherein said a portion of said at least one rodengages said wedge whereby said rod causes said spike to be extended assaid elongate member is moved to said first position.
 13. The apparatusof claim 8 wherein said rod is pivotally secured to said sole andincludes a pinion gear engagable with a rack gear of said elongatemember, said rod further including a cam corresponding to each of saidplurality of spike assemblies for extending said spikes.
 14. Theapparatus of claim 13 wherein said spike assemblies further include asleeve receivable within said apertures and a spike slidably supportedwithin said sleeve wherein said cams engage a top portion of saidspikes.
 15. A shoe having an upper and a sole portion and a longitudinaldirection, said sole having a plurality of spike apertures and aselective spike extending assembly for extending a plurality of spikesfrom said sole through said plurality of spike apertures, said spikeextending assembly comprising a plurality of spike assemblies, each ofsaid plurality of spike assemblies being locatable within one of saidspike apertures; an elongate member extendable substantially parallel tosaid longitudinal member of said shoe and being movable between firstand second positions, said elongate member operable to extend saidspikes from said shoe at said first position and to retract said spikeswithin said shoe at said second position; a cyclically alternatingpositioner for extending said member between said first and secondpositions, said positioner having an actuating button wherein depressingsaid actuating button a first time causes said positioner to move saidelongate member to said first position and wherein depressing saidactuating button a second time causes said positioner to move saidelongate member to said second position.
 16. The shoe of claim 15wherein a portion of said sole covers said actuating button.
 17. Theshoe of claim 16 wherein said actuating button is contained within saidsole.
 18. The shoe of claim 15 wherein said actuating button projectsfrom said sole.
 19. The shoe of claim 15 further comprising at least onerod extending transversely across said sole for transmitting saidlocation of said elongate member to said spike assemblies.
 20. The shoeof claim 16 wherein said at least one rod is supported within a slot insaid elongate member, wherein said slot is orthogonal to said elongatemember and said at least one rod.
 21. The shoe of claim 20 wherein saidspike assemblies further comprise: a sleeve receivable within saidapertures; a spike slidably supported within said sleeve; a firstlinkage extending from a bottom portion of said sleeve to said at leastone rod; and a second linkage extending from a top portion of said spiketo said at least one rod.
 22. The shoe of claim 16 wherein said at leastone rod is secured to said elongate member.
 23. The shoe of claim 22wherein said spike assemblies further comprise: a sleeve receivablewithin said apertures; a spike slidably supported within said sleeve; awedge secured to said spike wherein said a portion of said at least onerod engages said wedge whereby said rod causes said spike to be extendedas said elongate member is moved to said first position.
 24. The shoe ofclaim 16 wherein said rod is pivotally secured to said sole and includesa pinion gear engagable with a rack gear of said elongate member, saidrod further including a cam corresponding to each of said plurality ofspike assemblies for extending said spikes.
 25. The shoe of claim 24wherein said spike assemblies further include a sleeve receivable withinsaid apertures and a spike slidably supported within said sleeve whereinsaid cams engage a top portion of said spikes.